Bill Green ’49, N.C. Journalism Hall of Famer: 1924 – 2016

Alumnus and 2012 N.C. Journalism Hall of Fame inductee Bill Green died on Monday, March 28, at home in Durham, N.C. 

A Zebulon native and 1949 Carolina journalism graduate, Green began his journalism career as a reporter for the Durham Sun, becoming editor of the Morganton News Herald and the Shelby Daily Star.

He was an ombudsman for The Washington Post, former senior assistant to Sen. Terry Sanford and former vice president of university relations at Duke University.

He is also a decorated World War II pilot who flew reconnaissance missions in Italy for the U.S. Air Force. Green joined the U.S. Information Agency in 1957 and became press officer at U.S. embassies in Bangladesh and South Africa. He was appointed as special assistant to USIA’s deputy director before serving as deputy assistant administrator for public affairs at NASA. The space agency awarded him its Exceptional Service Medal for his work during the early manned space flights.

In 1970, he became director of university relations at Duke University. While on sabbatical from Duke in 1981, he served as ombudsman for The Washington Post where he investigated a fraudulent story by a Post reporter. The story won a Pulitzer Prize that had to be returned, and Green’s account of the experience is regarded as a landmark in journalism criticism.

He is survived by his wife, Viola Isabel Green, and their five children: Lisa Kelley of Suwanee, Georgia; Claudia Green of Durham, N.C.; Erick Green of Washington, N.C., Bryan Green of Old Fort, N.C.; and Audrey Green of Chapel Hill, N.C. He and his wife had eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Green is also survived by siblings Warren Green, Ronald Green and Zelma Williams.

Funeral services will be held at Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 2. A reception will follow. In memorial, donations may be made to the Salvation Army of Durham.